In Transit

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As I write this the sun is going down over St. Louis and JD is still slumbering peacefully. Our plan of going nocturnal for the drive was born of solid logic. The cats won't overheat, the truck won't overheat, we won't overheat, the traffic will be lighter and there will be less chance of someone reporting us for our animal transport methods. That being said, after only 2 days its still difficult to go to bed at noon and sleep for 6 hours. I made it 4.5 and then 5 last night. With a few more days of acclimation I'm sure it would be possible but in theory we'll be in Allentown by tomorrow morning. Oh well. C'est la vie, c'est la guerre, c'est ma chien.

The drive has been relatively unremarkable. Our truck, a 22ft Penske with the VW on a trailer, is a rockstar of a vehicle. Huge and heavy with wheels that come up to my chest. It's probably close to its weight maximum and although it will go over 65/70 mph its really unnerving when you feel all that mass start to get jumpy behind you. Hence, we've been moving slowly and to stay on schedule that means driving 14 hours a day. So far so good though and we've covered 1500 miles of our 2400. Today will be the longest day but I've noticed that you tend to get a 7th wind as you close in on your destination on these long drives and if there is to be a long day it should be the last.

So there it is. I've finished downloading the audiobook for today's drive so I'm off to wake up JD and pack up Blaine (the truck).

Next stop: Chew St.

Nubbby's Revenge

Deep thought from our beloved, but random, friend Pookie

It would be a far more interesting plot if, in general, Wookies spoke perfect, fluent English, and Chewie just has some kind of hardcore Turrets Syndrome.

The Kelty Yellowstone 6

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In celebration of Independence Day we went camping with our friends J&K out in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico. It was very pretty, quite rainy, a bit chilly and altogether beautiful. So refreshing in fact that as we drove home still damp and dirty from the woods JD expressed her desire for a hot chocolate when we got home. "It's 105 degrees at home sweetie, I don't think you'll want a hot chocolate," I reminded her. "Ahhh, good point," she said. " Pull over at the next gas station then."

Unfortunately I have no pictures from our adventure b/c I forgot the camera.

Also also wik, I bought a new tool bag. Super exciting, I know. It's very nice though. Here's a picture sequence.








As Nubby becomes more mobile and happily moves around the house exploring things on occasion he catches our attention by being quiet. Its amazing how more than 45 seconds of silence suddenly becomes such an alert to your sixth sense. Your head comes up and you sniff the air rapidly for the scent of danger. Such as this morning...


Ok, maybe we set that picture up just a bit by taking the cover off the bucket and throwing interesting things into it until he finally peered over the edge. Or maybe not...

We had so much fun camping in fact that as soon as we got home I scoured REI online for family camping tents. Not that I don't Luv our Moss 2-per/4-seas (which has seen us through more than one blizzard safely) and my trusty old North Face Lightspeed Long non-freestanding 2-per/3-seas (from my summer in Boulder), but a baby changes the camping scenario. While online I found quite possibly the best floor-plan ever for a 6 person family tent. Jordanna explained it as "Everybody jump in the air while in your sleeping bag and where you land, you sleep."


Two weeks from tomorrow we pack our lives into a 22 foot Penske and drive East. "Back East" as people Out West say whether or not they're from Back East.

We're Famous! (kind of)

Thanks to our friend Christopher's spectacular photoshop acumen, I give you the Sprayberry Manbaby